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President Clinton letter to Congress on Cyprus (96-03-07)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release March 7, 1996
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
March 7, 1996
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. Chairman:)
In accordance with Public Law 95-384 (22 U.S.C. 2373(c)),
I submit to you this report on progress toward a
negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question. The
previous submission covered progress through November 30,
1995. The current submission covers the period December
1, 1995, through January 31, 1996.
The continuing lack of a solution on Cyprus is in marked
contrast to the recent advances achieved in Bosnia and the
Middle East. My Administration remains committed to
pursuing a settlement in 1996. We are confident that if
the parties to the dispute are prepared to engage
seriously and with flexibility, we can move to active
negotiations and to a final settlement, which creates a
bizonal, bicommunal federation. We will need the full
support of Greece and Turkey for our efforts. My Special
Emissary, Richard Beattie, travelled to Cyprus in December
for further discussions with the two Cypriot leaders. The
progress he made, although modest, gives us a basis to
pursue our initiative once circumstances in the region are
more favorable.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the U.N.-sponsored
settlement process and Cyprus' course toward accession to
the European Union (EU) affect each other. For that
reason, my Administration will strive to ensure the
closest possible coordination among efforts by the United
Nations, the EU, and ourselves to address the question of
Cyprus.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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